COVID-19: Software Developers and Becoming All-Remote (Part 1)

Here is a short excerpt from the article published by JAXEnter.com, part 1 of a four-part series.

Introduction

This is the first article in a four-part series dedicated to helping software developers, managers and organizations adapt to the pandemic emergency and become all-remote. In this first article, we will focus on the basics. There are many lists available discussing the right toolset and the behavioral changes necessary to be an all-remote team or organization. This article is not about that. Here we will dive into the human aspects affecting all of us, and address some of the ways in which we can turn this unfortunate event into an engaging learning experience for ourselves, our team and everyone we interact with.

The world during the pandemic

In the context of work, which is the general theme of this series, I urge all of us to practice extreme kindness and understanding during these difficult times. In terms of our professional activities, there will be delays, confusion, flared tempers, and a full range of emotions on display as we tackle working together remotely under these circumstances. Since we are mostly working from home, work-related stress can also spill over into our family life with no clear escape valve. Rather than inflame conflicts, it’s a good time to take a step back and diffuse situations. Just like the stock market has a fuse to avoid extreme buying and selling situations from getting out of control, we should all recognize that diffusing and restarting is the best path forward for both personal and professional outcomes.

The privilege of being a software developer

Software development is a privileged profession. Not only do we get to build magic, but we can do it from anywhere. With an Internet connection, we can stay professionally connected and productive. Programming is intellectually engaging, so it’s relatively easy to lose yourself in the problem you are trying to solve, providing both a needed distraction and a real purpose. Developers usually work as a team, so you feel like you are part of something bigger than yourself, which also helps with motivation, engagement and emotional balance. So, while we cannot set our worries aside, we can spend part of our day focused on building something that matters now and will matter in the future.

Discuss

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